ATP Finals Player Profile: Daniil Medvedev

Current Ranking: 3

W/L: 64-16

Titles: 5 (Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami, Rome)

Grand Slam Record: 13-4

ATP Finals Appearance: 5

Best Result: W (2020)

With Novak Djokovic’s continued excellence and Carlos Alcaraz’s supernova ascent sucking up most of the oxygen, it’s easy to overlook Medvedev’s superb season. In fact, for a stretch from February to May he was the hottest player on the planet. During his five-title run from Rotterdam through Rome he was 35-3, including a 19-match win streak, with 13 victories over Top 20 opponents. It’s the sixth straight season in which Medvedev has won multiple tournament titles, elevating his career total to 20.

Although a second Grand Slam singles title continues to elude him, he was generally in the conversation. He suffered early exits in Australia and Roland Garros, but had a career-best showing in Wimbledon. Alcaraz, who had clobbered Medvedev in Indian Wells, repeated the favor in the semifinals, but the deep run proved the rangy Russian’s distinctive blend of intractable defense and timely offense also works on grass.

A subpar run-up to the US Open was followed by arguably Medvedev’s finest performance of the year. With the entire tennis world anticipating another Djokovic-Alcaraz showdown, Medvedev exacted a measure of revenge on the Spaniard in a nearly flawless semifinal triumph. He couldn’t duplicate that level against Djokovic in the final, however, and took the runner-up trophy in a major for the fourth time in his career.

Always one to keep busy, finals runs in Beijing and Vienna—and a middle finger to the Paris crowd—have highlighted Medvedev’s fall. He comes into Turin—his fifth consecutive ATP Finals appearance—having not won a title since May, and still probably in the shadows of Djokovic and Alcaraz. Which, judging by how his season went, may be just how Medvedev likes it.

Grab Medvedev’s Gear

Tecnifibre TFight ISO 305 ($249) (Purchase now at TennisShop.com)

Like the player endorsing it, the TFight 305 has evolved into a dynamic blend of power and precision with some finesse thrown into the mix. The ISO in its name stands for ISOFLEX—variable racquet stiffness depending on the location of the frame for a wider sweet spot and more forgiveness on off-center hits. The RS Section beam combines the feel and control of a square profile with the stability and power of an elliptical shape. The frame packs a lot of punch and has a beefy feel for its weight thanks to a 3 pts. HL balance and a considerable 330s swingweight. A unique 18x19 string pattern offers a worthwhile compromise between the spin-potential of a 16x19 and the directional control of an 18x20. And the cosmetic is a real stunner.